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Causes of 18-wheeler Accidents: Hazardous materials in cargo (HAZMAT)

Hazardous Materials Can Impact Your Health For Years After an Accident

According to the United States Department of Transportation, there are
more than 800,000 shipments of hazardous materials on the road at any
given time. This agency also estimates that 200 of the 5,000 fatal truck
accidents that occur each year in the United States involve hazardous
materials shipments.

Examples of Recent Accidents Involving Hazardous Materials

In August, 2016, a truck carrying propellants used in the manufacture of
airbags for autos and light trucks exploded without warning after catching
fire near Eagle Pass, Texas. The fire and explosion killed one and six
others were injured. The explosion was so violent that it leveled a house
that was over 300 feet away from the explosion.

In October, 2016, a 16-mile stretch of I-95 in North Carolina was shut
down after 3 separate HAZMAT tractor-trailer accidents occurred within
hours of each other. One accident required an evacuation of everyone within
a 3-mile radius. The truck contained trichloroisocyanuric acid and calcium
hypochlorite, both of which can produce respiratory distress in inhaled.

In November, 2016, an 18-wheeler carrying 1400 5-gallon propane tanks rolled
over on an I-20 on-ramp near Arlington, Texas. All the tanks eventually
exploded and the bridge over I-20 was shut down until Texas Department
of Transportation inspectors could certify the bridge was safe for use.

Dangers Associated With HAZMAT Accidents

Although many HAZMAT accidents occur on highways, the dangers associated
with HAZMAT shipments are not localized. Depending on the type of materials
that may be a part of a HAZMAT shipment, even people and residences located
miles away are subject to injury. If the material is a gas, and the gas
escapes, it can travel miles downwind of an accident site and cause an
injury when it is inhaled.

Damages from a HAZMAT accident need not cause an immediate injury. Many
substances are either known or suspected of increased risks of cancer
and other health problems. In some cases, chemicals can contaminate soil
and water sources, making them unusable for months or even years to come.

Your Legal Right To Be Compensated for Injuries After a HAZMAT Accidents

Unlike other accidents where injuries are usually immediately obvious and
a diagnosis with a prognosis can be made within a few days, HAZMAT accidents
can involve exposure to substances that can cause diseases that might
not cause an immediate problem. As an example, an accident that releases
compounds that contain benzene in either a gaseous or liquid state can
be taken into the body is amounts that are very difficult to detect but
yet could cause cancer years later. If soil is contaminated, the contaminating
chemical could be absorbed into plants that could them be eaten by food
animals and thus render them unsafe for humans to eat.

If you or a family member were involved in an accident where you were possibly
exposed to a leaking HAZMAT cargo, you should be aware that you have the
right to a settlement that includes monitoring the status of your general
health until the risks of exposure to that material has either passed
or has been reduced to an acceptable risk level.

The only way that you can be sure that your right to be compensated for
your injuries, both immediate and future, is to retain the services of
a personal injury lawyer who has experience in dealing with HAZMAT transportation
companies and HAZMAT accident victims. In fact, if you are being pressured
into accepting a settlement, you are probably being asked to accept a
settlement that is worth far less than the compensation you are entitled
to. DO NOT sign any type of document or release until you talk with a
lawyer that understands the extent of your injury and its future consequences.

Once again, if you were injured in an accident and you may have been exposed
to a hazardous cargo as a result of that accident, you should retain the
services of a personal injury lawyer to protect your legal right to compensation
for your injury.

After an accident, the responsible party's insurance company may try
to reduce the claim amount. Commonly, insurance adjusters are trained
to get information from the
injured to assist in reducing the claim. Though some insurers are less guilty
of this practice than others, it is important to realize that insurance
companies are profit-oriented corporations and reducing claims results
in increased profits for shareholders. This can create a situation for
the injured in which they are offered a settlement that does not truly
reflect the damages suffered. If you accept this settlement, you lose
the ability to get more money should your injuries require further medical
treatments. It is critical that victims get legal assistance in any personal
injury case, and
The Doan Law Firm is prepared to fight relentlessly for your rights.